VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Authorities have charged the driver of a red truck that sped toward protesters nearly a month after the demonstration on May 31 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Virginia Beach police charged 20-year-old Emanuel “Manny” William Wilder, of Chesapeake, on Wednesday with four misdemeanors: disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, abusive language and reckless driving.
Virginia Beach police announced the charges on Thursday in a press release, saying investigators working with the Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney “obtained sufficient corroborating facts to obtain charges.”
VBPD said in their release that Wilder was arrested, but the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, which served the warrants, said Thursday that he had not been booked at the Norfolk City Jail.
Just over a week ago, Virginia Beach police sent out a public request for more witnesses to come forward in the case. VBPD said it was looking into two specific altercations involving Wilder, including the truck incident, but it was Norfolk officers that eventually made the arrest.
WAVY’s Chopper 10 captured the incident from above, showing Wilder’s truck narrowly missing a protester in the middle of the road before coming to stop. Protesters then surround the truck. One person got in front of the truck, but Wilder continued to accelerate forward. The protester eventually steps aside before Wilder drives away.
Wilder claimed he’s not a racist and that his “goal was never to hit anyone” in the interview with 10 On Your Side, but protest organizers say he was yelling racial slurs and was intentionally trying to intimidate them.
“If you’re running down the street, and yelling racial slurs to people, and you can see there’s a protest then obviously you want trouble. Of course people are going to get upset. This is a protest. It is very clear what we are doing. You (Manny) shouldn’t even been on the street, which you were,” said organizer Jackie Horton.
Full video from Chopper 10 of Wilder driving toward protest crowd below
This is a breaking article and will be updated.
